Portrait of Dr. Franz Xavier von Soist

Franz von Soist was a doctor in Ehrenbreitstein, on the opposite side of the Rhine from Coblenz. He and his wife were most likely members of the local Catholic haute-bourgeoisie, from whom many of Ittenbach’s portraits were commissioned.

It can be seen in Dr. von Soist’s likeness, Ittenbach was capable of a sophisticated sense of immediacy in his portraiture which almost suggests a sort of German Ingres.